Tour de France 2013

[Panonabike]

Are we having a spin on Le Tour this year? They are half way across Corsica already, and Cav and Froome are settled in. Cav's looking for a stage win.

[ragged]

So to find this thread.
Cav said the confusion caused the final crash.
Cav is after the all time stage win record, though, that's his big aim, Green jersey is like icing on the cake. I guess Cav needs 3-5 wins this year to keep on track with his target.
I am so worried the Spaniards will nicely gang up on Froome like they did in last year's Vuelta (With Quintana swapped in for Nibali this time). I'm glad to see Andy Schleck is there, though. He always livens up a race. I only fancy him a little.

I wonder if Wiggins will aim for the Vuelta, now? 2nd in 2011(?)

[Panonabike]

Hot am v of that. Hope you don't end up looking in the sun!
Out all day so it's CB and friend on the late show for me.

[prettybird]

Had to pop out to my LBS (Local Bike Shop) yesterday after watching the stage (to sort out the spd shoes I'd got dh for his birthday). Asked the owner if he's seen any of that day's TdF - he answered, "No, and don't tell me what happened". I said he needed to watch it but no other information - so he then made all the guys in the shop (about 4 of them) switch off their Internet access!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I did feel sorry for to bus driver - he looked as if he wanted the ground to,open up and swallow him.

I'm loving the Corsican countryside - to be fair, most places look good with 197 Lycra clad cyclists hurtling past!

[prettybird]

STDG.

[Panonabike]

Crumbs that descent looked life-threatening! And Cav has a point doesn't he about the equalisation of points as well as times. If the times are made equal due to the extraordinary circs then everything else should be.

[YellowJersey]

I thought the bus driver was very brave to be interviewed on TV. I suppose now he's done an interview the media will leave him alone.

Agree ragged it's good to see Andy Schleck back in action & I hope he is fit again & in form. He's had a lousy season so far. Was also glad that Tony Martin was back on his bike after his crash. The rumours of a broken collarbone were thankfully incorrect.

One of the things I like best about the TdeF (apart from the lovely lycra clad cyclists of course) is the scenery, and Corsica is so pretty. I love the sugar-almond coloured buildings. It's now on the places to go on holiday list.

RadioShack looked delighted with their win today, Bakelants did well to hang on at the sprint finish & looked so relieved at the end. Froome's little dig 10km out just because he could showed ominous intent.

What about the white dog running across the road!!! It could have caused another major pile up. Kirby & Kelly on Eurosport were speculating about the possibility of a wild boar interrupting the race, instead there was an uncontrolled dog. You'd think the owners would have the sense to keep it on a lead.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Oooh, a Tour thread.

I am already over-excited about next year. (guess where I live!)

[DuchessOfAvon]

endoplasmic I am guessing that you might not live too far away from me!!

We are now fully booked in our spare room for next year, two tents in the garden and the girls will have to double-up for the weekend. Both DH and I are signed up to be Tour-makers - we'll argue about who does what when we know if we'll be needed!

Are you Sky-riding next weekend?

yy about the dog. Both DH and I were grabbing cushions to hide behind - especially when the owner made a start across the road to grab it - just as the main body of the peleton swept into view.

Nice to see a little swagger from Froome. I hope it all amounts to something in 3 weeks time. I am very about Geraint, though. I hope he is OK.

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

Oooh! Love the tour. We're going to be in France in mid July and planning to head to the Ventoux for the stage there. V exciting!

[YellowJersey]

"G" was given the all-clear I believe, he was fortunate after that tumble.

So envious of anyone who'll get the chance to see some of the Tour, and of those of you who'll be in Yorkshire next year.

In a few years time when we get rid of the kids DH & I want to buy a camper van & follow the Tour around France. We'd love that. Although you probably see very little when you are actually there - blink & you miss the action.

[mojitomo]

just love the tour - currently holidaying in devon and watching it on sky go. would love to follow it round France but hoping to be at the grand depart next year

[Casperthefriendlyspook]

We went a few years ago too. I was heavily pregnant, and we stood by a road side for about 4 hours, and they were through in about 20 seconds!! Hence why we're doing a mountain stage this time. :) Atmosphere was great thought - the sponsorships caravan comes through first, and there's music, freebies, etc. quite an experience....

[DuchessOfAvon]

We have been to the run in to Paris, although you can't get anywhere near the Champs without a ticket. As Caspar says the build up is all part of the event. DH went to the TT start in London a few years back and said it was awesome. THe best bit was being able to stroll around and watch the riders warming up, he said. Sadly DD1 was tiny at the time and I couldn't face the crowds with her. I am a bit gutted that there is no TT prologue out of Leeds as it will make for a very different sort of start. However, we'll be heading for the hillier sections and make the most of it.

Yellow - that is our plan for our first year of retirement!

[BikeRunSki]

DO you think that Jans Banklens (sp???) has woken up this morning (jabbed to hell no doubt) thinking "Did I really win the TdF yesterday? Was that really me? Me....?

Duchess and Endoplasmic - See you in Leeds!!!!! And Holme Moss, and the bits in between. Maybe we need a special MN yellow scarf?

Seeing the Tour is fabulous, but quick. We went to Paris about 10 years ago to see Armstrong's 5th win. The final stage is excellent because they do 8 laps of the Champs D'Ellysee (sp?) so you grab your railing early and see all the action over and over (and possibly go and nose in Louis Vuitton) and pop into cafes for coffee and baguettes. The Time Trial in Monaco 4 years ago was fabulous too, then we stayed nearby and saw the first stage too.

[Gigondas]

I think he said he was going to sleep in his yellow jersey bike run ski .

It is blink and you miss it on tour but soo worth it for atmosphere.

[Panonabike]

I'd spent 4 hours waiting at the stage end at Gap, in the south, in the year the temps went up tp 45 degrees - 2003. It was tres warm but worth it -the whole nation descends on one tiny town for the day, then moves on.

we are missing lostinwales - she is a Tour regular.

[TheFuzz]

David Millar only 1 second off GC, which ain't bad. He's even mixed it up in the sprinting as well. Cav won't have much chance at a win in next few days until the stages are flatter, he isn't a climber.

[frostyfingers]

Haven't been able to get into this yet so far, but hoping I can settle into my routine of watching the highlights every evening. Corsica did look so beautiful, but even without the bus getting stuck that first stage looked ready made for crashes with such narrow twisty roads.

I'll be cheering for Cav again, he'll be Mr Grumpy until he gets his first stage - does anyone know when the next stage with a sprint finish is?

[DuchessOfAvon]

I loved seeing David M being a sprinter! He was being as laconic and grumpy as ever in the post-race interview when they realised he had just missed out on the Maillot Jaune.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

We went to see a stage of the Tour in 2010 - near Draguignan (we think it is going the same way this year) - it was a great day, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

In fact I would love to follow the Tour in one of those camper vans (a biggish, luxury one, with wifi so I can MN). Maybe if I win the lottery...

[ChairmanWow]

Yay, a TDF thread. Have just watched today's finish. Keeping quiet!

I loved Bakelants interview afterwards. He was in a state of disbelief, bless him. YY to the beauty of Corsica. Sad that they're leaving.

For me, it's Cav who excites me most. He is so unbelievably powerful when he switches it on. I'm not a Froome fan I'm afraid. He's a bit of a robot for me. Reserving judgement on who I want for GC.

Looking forward to hanging out on here over the next few weeks!

[DorisShutt]

Can I just run in (cycle?!) and yelp in excitement as at this time next week, I'll be hunting round St Nazaire on the rest day to try to find a cyclist or two... And then watching it on Tuesday...

[FriskyMare]

Have nothing of great importance to say other than...
CAV!!!

I quite like Cav.